5th September 2017 - La Cuniacha; Panticosa; Formigal.

The supermarket in Tramacastilla de Tena was not open so we missed out on our fresh bread and had to make do with melon. After sorting the clothes I had washed yesterday I did the ironing and then we went to La Cuniacha - a nature park with lots of wild animals. We paid our reduced  senior fee and hoped to get breakfast at the bar just inside but it wasn’t open so would have to do half of the walking tour before we could get breakfast/lunch! Within the first minute of surveying and testing the very steep terrain I nearly gave up and returned to the kiosk to demand my money back! At one stage while I rested leaning against a tree - which I had tested to see if it could take my weight - a woman about my size commented breathlessly but empathetically on the difficulty of ascending. However, with many tree resting stops to still my beating heart and ease the sweat that was blinding me, I continued on and discovered that, while the terrain was rough there were some flat stretches to ease the puffing ascents and the slithery crumbly descents and there was enough of wildlife interest to give unobtrusive rests. We saw some wild boar.

We actually saw mouflons without losing our car! But then again the car was parked securely we hoped in the carpark!!

Santa's reindeer's summer  retreat!

At one viewing spot a young Spanish boy of about 8 to 10 started to explain to me that there was a lynx and a female lynx with a cub. My lack of Spanish did not bother him a bit as he was so excited and wanted to share the view.

When we got halfway we were delighted to see the Bar/kiosk and to order brunch for at this stage it was almost midday. However, we had to wait as the attendant was very busy and had not had time to start lunch preparations. We had a coffee and waited till she shouted out our order. One baguette would have been enough! But that’s the way it is when you don’t understand the language. We had a look at the bison and went on our way again seeing mountain ponies, brown bears, wolves, foxes etc. And we got back safely just over 2 hours after departure on what had been advertised as a 3 hour trek. I was very satisfied with myself!

The backdrop of La Cuniacha.

After a quick rest at home we then went up to Panticosa and Formigal. This is a key destination for winter sports enthusiasts but it is beautiful at this time of year.

This is a view of Sallent de Gallego

2 more views of Sallent de Gallego.

Lots of accommodation for skiers!

Then we checked out the supermarkets for stuff for Eric's visit. I wanted to cook things that weren't too complicated so had decided on a tomato and goat cheese tart which required puff pastry.We finally ended up in Biescas where shops didn’t open till 5pm. There was no puff pastry in the first supermarket but thankfully got it in the second or it would have been back to the drawing board!. It was 30 degrees when we got home so we had to put up the parasol.